I embraced girlboss culture in my 20s. It didn't take long to realize I wanted out.

The author leaned out of hustle culture and said she enjoyed a more relaxed, but still fulfilling, life.

Courtesy of Catherine Work.

I spent my 20s believing that working hard and making money were the keys to independence.

I realized I was working so much that I had no time or energy to enjoy the life I was building.

Years later, being an ambitious woman looks different to me.

I work less and have time for myself.

I thought making a lot of money and working hard would make me happy.

In my early 20s, I got great grades and finished my undergrad in three years.

By my mid-20s, I had finished my graduate degree in law while frequently working 70-hour weeks.

I leaned into the idea of being a girlboss , often working weekends or through my lunch, and focusing on making lots of money.

It was a habit I saw modeled by my parents.

It worked for them, and I thought it would work for me, until it didn't.

I thought hard work was the point At 26, I worked long days at my home desk after making "hard worker" and "responsible'"my identity for years.

I thought this was what an independent woman was: someone who worked constantly and optimized all of her time.